Sunday, June 26, 2011

I started thinking about this amorphous topic for a number of reasons.

One was in the context of being part of butch femme dynamics where I've been challenged a number of times by femmes, on my masculine privilege, assumptions, misogyny, and ways of working and communicating.

Another is upon starting to take testosterone, needing to think about how my body and its readings will be eventually absorbed more solidly into gendered dynamics, particularly masculine positionings. This is in contrast to now, when people read me as male, it's a young pre/pubescant male, until I begin to speak; or I'm read as a queer female/dyke.

So wanting to look at my behaviour now as a butch, and eventually when I will be read as a man, both readings within a vague but powerful category of “masculinity”.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Camp Betty Sydney 2011 rocked. Here is a link to what they've said about themselves http://campbetty.org/2010/?page_id=2 then what I say about Camp Betty.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

I conceptualised Camp Betty as a queer and trans activist conference, and it kicked off at the Red Rattler http://www.redrattler.org/sydney/about+us with a cranking pechakucha combined with regos. There were three or four blocks of presentations, with half hour breaks in between where everyone could drink and mingle and buy Camp Betty merchandise. Some of the speakers blew me away, and spoke on topics from no-borders refugee activism, whorephobia, sex work with disabled people, disability and sexuality, colonisation embodied, conscious hip hop and blogging.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

The following is a copy and paste of the email sent to slutwalkaotearoa@gmail.com:

To the Organisers of Slutwalk Aotearoa,

Thank you so much for sticking your necks out and organising this event. I know that it's no easy task, especially with all the attention that the event has been receiving - both positive and negative. It's a lot to take on and I do appreciate the effort. I write to you with some concerns that I have been mulling over the past few weeks about Slutwalk Aotearoa. I write personally as a young, educated, privileged, middle class, asian feminist, woman of colour. These are my concerns, although I am sure I am not alone in them. I apologise for the timing, I am aware that it is only a week away but I feel as though there is enough time to genuinely address my concerns in this time as well.

I feel that the name of Slutwalk is its biggest downfall. It is exclusive of class, race, culture, and age. What I mean by this should be explained further on. I am hesitant to begin this discussion with you as I feel it is unfair that I, as an Asian person, need to constantly 'educate' white people about their privilege, amongst other privileges that you hold in being the organisers of the event. If your privilege is invisible to you, it definitely isn't invisible to me. It is important to acknowledge the power you have and to use it in a way that empowers and shares that power amongst the people you wish to represent.

Engaging recently in Facebook pages of both the Auckland and Wellington chapters, I am alarmed at the surprisingly limited and narrow views on what causes rape and sexual violence and no one keeping these people informed about what the real drive and message of Slutwalk should be. I think there has been a conversation I had on the Slutwalk Aotearoa: Wellington Chapter's page that will save me from repeating myself and give context about the attitudes I speak of. I am in no way suggesting that any of the other people engaged in that discussion are the sole perpetrators of these views - http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=152697438136699&id=139962719410171&cmntid=153023491437427 I would like you, the organisers, to pay special attention to the following part of that conversation:
"when I originally was invited to join this walk: the description implicitedly encouraged people to 'dress like sluts and reclaim the term'. That's where my thoughts lie and remain. If they really wanted it to be inclusive they would have taken more regard to the multiple opinions of it being exclusive and acknowledged that the conversations were surrounding the name of the walk. We don't need to follow suit precisely to the T. NZ has been known to set new trends despite how small we are in comparison to the world so don't even try to give me the excuse that this is just one of many other walks around the world." - The 'it' I refer to is the event under the banner of "Slutwalk" and the 'they' is you, the organisers.
"If proportionately more rape is by acquaintance rape then why is it that we're addressing stranger rape caused by dress and appearance? Does that not seem any bit contrary to the goal?" - This is relevant to this conversation because I really believe that the general public and a very large proportion of the slutwalk supporters miss this point. The title "Slutwalk" refers to that origin of the march, but does not speak to the evolvement of the march in addressing all forms of gendered and sexual violence.

I am genuinely interested in supporting this event and cause, I'm just not sure that Slutwalk in its current form speaks to the core of the issue of sexual assault and gender violence towards women. I hope that this letter gives you the information to address my concerns and that you are able to amend the issues I have raised. Please feel free to contact me if you need to, I am offering myself to be available for further discussions, within reason, if that's what you so wish.

About this blog

This is a blog dedicated to radical social change from a section of the "Asian" tau iwi population in Aotearoa. We wish to create more dialogue and space to talk about issues that are specific to our experience. It’s about opening up a space in which Asian feminists in Aotearoa can speak and communicate our specific and diverse experiences, to counter the dominant white feminisms and left-wing politics, to challenge colonialism, racism, sexism and all forms of unjust social hierarchy. To engage in decolonisation, to create understanding between all oppressed people, to support each other, to inspire solidarity and organize collectively for a better world.